Generating and/or receiving, at least in part, signal that includes at least one waveform

Abstract

An embodiment may include circuitry to generate and/or receive, at least in part, a signal that may include at least one waveform. The at least one waveform may include at least one portion followed by at least one other portion. The at least one portion may include a plurality of levels to be compared to data encoding levels to determine whether the plurality of levels satisfy ratios determined based at least in part upon the plurality of levels and the data encoding levels. The at least one other portion may include maximum and minimum data encoding levels to facilitate emphasis measurement. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to generate, at least in part, at a sender, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level; 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one waveform is to be transmitted from the sender to a receiver via a backplane; 
 the receiver is to compare, after one or more respective settling periods have elapsed, the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to one or more corresponding characteristics of at least one predetermined waveform; 
 each of the ten levels comprised in the at least one waveform is to be measured by the receiver after a respective settling period; and 
 the receiver is to compare the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to the one or more corresponding characteristics of the at least one predetermined waveform for testing in accordance with one or more communication protocols. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the first, the second, and the third VA voltage levels comprises a respective −1 volt level; 
 each of the first, the second, and the third VD voltage levels comprises a respective 1 volt level; and 
 each of the first and the second VB voltage levels is both:
 greater than each of the first, the second, and the third VA voltage levels; and 
 less than each of the first, the second, and the third VD voltage levels. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 results of the testing are utilized to adjust one or more communication parameters to facilitate communication in accordance with the one or more communication protocols. 
 
     
     
       4. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to generate, at least in part, at a sender, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level: 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one sequence of the ten plurality of levels comprises:
 at least one ascending stair step pattern; 
 at least one descending stair step pattern; and 
 at least one full amplitude swing pattern in between the at least one ascending stair step pattern and the at least one descending stair step pattern; 
 
 the at least one full amplitude swing pattern comprises maximum and minimum voltage levels of the at least one waveform; 
 each respective voltage level in the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels has an identical respective duration; 
 each respective VA voltage level is less than each respective VB voltage level; 
 each respective VB voltage level is less than each respective VC voltage level; and 
 each respective VC voltage level is less than each respective VD voltage level. 
 
 
     
     
       5. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to receive, at least in part, at a receiver, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level; 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one sequence of the ten plurality of levels comprises:
 at least one ascending stair step pattern; 
 at least one descending stair step pattern; and 
 at least one full amplitude swing pattern that is in between the at least one ascending stair step pattern and the at least one descending stair step pattern; 
 
 the at least one full amplitude swing pattern comprises maximum and minimum voltage levels of the at least one waveform 
 each respective voltage level in the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels has an identical respective duration; 
 each respective VA voltage level is less than each respective VB voltage level; 
 each respective VB voltage level is less than each respective VC voltage level; and 
 each respective VC voltage level is less than each respective VD voltage level. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 each of the first, the second, and the third VA voltage levels comprises a respective −1 volt level; and 
 each of the first, the second, and the third VD voltage levels comprises a respective 1 volt level. 
 
     
     
       7. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to receive, at least in part, at a receiver, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level; 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one waveform is to be transmitted from a sender to the receiver via a backplane; 
 the receiver is to compare, after one or more respective settling periods have elapsed, the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to one or more corresponding characteristics of at least one predetermined waveform; 
 each of the ten levels comprised in the at least one waveform is to be measured by the receiver after a respective settling period; and 
 the receiver is to compare the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to the one or more corresponding characteristics of the at least one predetermined waveform for testing in accordance with one or more communication protocols. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 results of the testing are utilized to adjust one or more communication parameters to facilitate communication in accordance with the one or more communication protocols. 
 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 generating, at least in part, at a sender, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level; 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one sequence of the ten plurality of levels comprises:
 at least one ascending stair step pattern; 
 at least one descending stair step pattern; 
 at least one full amplitude swing pattern in between the at least one ascending stair step pattern and the at least one descending stair step pattern; and 
 
 the at least one full amplitude swing pattern comprises maximum and minimum voltage levels of the at least one waveform; 
 each respective voltage level in the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels has an identical respective duration; 
 each respective VA voltage level is less than each respective VB voltage level; 
 each respective VB voltage level is less than each respective VC voltage level; and 
 each respective VC voltage level is less than each respective VD voltage level. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the first, the second, and the third VA voltage levels comprises a respective −1 volt level; and 
 each of the first, the second, and the third VD voltage levels comprises a respective 1 volt level. 
 
     
     
       11. A method comprising:
 generating, at least in part, at a sender, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level: 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one waveform is to be transmitted from the sender to a receiver via a backplane; 
 the receiver is to compare, after one or more respective settling periods have elapsed, the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to one or more corresponding characteristics of at least one predetermined waveform; 
 each of the ten levels comprised in the at least one waveform is to be measured by the receiver after a respective settling period; and 
 the receiver is to compare the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to the one or more corresponding characteristics of the at least one predetermined waveform for testing in accordance with one or more communication protocols. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 results of the testing are utilized to adjust one or more communication parameters to facilitate communication in accordance with the one or more communication protocols. 
 
     
     
       13. A method comprising:
 receiving, at least in part, at a receiver, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level; 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one sequence of the ten plurality of levels comprises:
 at least one ascending stair step pattern; 
 at least one descending stair step pattern; and 
 at least one full amplitude swing pattern that is in between the at least one ascending stair step pattern and the at least one descending stair step pattern; 
 
 the at least one full amplitude swing pattern comprises maximum and minimum voltage levels of the at least one waveform; 
 each respective voltage level in the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels has an identical respective duration; 
 each respective VA voltage level is less than each respective VB voltage level; 
 each respective VB voltage level is less than each respective VC voltage level; and 
 each respective VC voltage level is less than each respective VD voltage level. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 each of the first, the second, and the third VA voltage levels comprises a respective −1 volt level; and 
 each of the first, the second, and the third VD voltage levels comprises a respective 1 volt level. 
 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 receiving, at least in part, at a receiver, a signal that includes at least one waveform, the at least one waveform including at least one sequence of ten voltage levels, each of the ten voltage levels being selected from a group of differing voltage levels consisting of a VA voltage level, a VB voltage level, a VC voltage level, and a VD voltage level, the at least one sequence of the ten voltage levels comprising:
 a first VA voltage level followed by a first VB voltage level followed by a first VC voltage level followed by a first VD voltage level followed by a second VA voltage level followed by a second VD voltage level followed by a third VA voltage level followed by a third VD voltage level followed by a second VC voltage level followed by a second VB voltage level; 
 
 wherein:
 one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform are to be measured, after one or more respective periods have elapsed; 
 the at least one waveform is to be transmitted from a sender to the receiver via a backplane; 
 the receiver is to compare, after one or more respective settling periods have elapsed, the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to one or more corresponding characteristics of at least one predetermined waveform; 
 each of the ten levels comprised in the at least one waveform is to be measured by the receiver after a respective settling period; and 
 the receiver is to compare the one or more characteristics of the at least one waveform, as received by the receiver, to the one or more corresponding characteristics of the at least one predetermined waveform for testing in accordance with one or more communication protocols. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 results of the testing are utilized to adjust one or more communication parameters to facilitate communication in accordance with the one or more communication protocols.